JETSTREAM 32 ACFT TOOK OFF WITH NOSE GEAR PIN STILL IN AND FLC RETURNED; LANDED; REMOVED PIN AND DEPARTED AGAIN. RPTR FO WAS DISTRACTED DURING PREFLT BY HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE PITOT TUBE CUTTING HIS HEAD.

Narrative

AT APPROX XX05; LCL TIME; FLT DEPARTED RWY 23. UPON ATTEMPTING TO RETRACT THE LNDG GEAR; THE NOSEWHEEL REMAINED DOWN. THE CAPT ASKED ME TO VERIFY THE GEAR PIN WAS IN THE STORAGE BOX; I REPLIED IT WAS NOT. I INITIATED A VISUAL L TFC PATTERN; THE CAPT INFORMED THE TWR WE WOULD RETURN FOR LNDG AND INSPECTION. THE TWR ASKED IF WE NEEDED ASSISTANCE; WE REPLIED 'NO' AND THE TWR SAID THEY WOULD SEND THE TRUCKS AS A PRECAUTION. I LANDED THE ACFT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE CAPT TAXIED TO THE GATE; WE SHUT DOWN; REMOVED THE NOSE GEAR PIN; INSPECTED; AND RESUMED THE TRIP. THE CHAIN OF EVENTS CAN BE TRACED TO MY FORMER AIRLINE EXPERIENCE WHERE IT WAS A POLICY TO NEVER INSTALL THE NOSE PIN AND THEY DID NOT HANGAR THE ACFT AT OUT STATIONS. ADDITIONALLY; DURING THE PREFLT INSPECTION; AS I BENT DOWN TO REMOVE THE CHOCKS; I STRUCK MY HEAD ON THE PITOT TUBE AND CUT MY FOREHEAD. I CURSED; KICKED THE CHOCKS AND LOOKED FOR THE GEAR PIN FLAG. THE FLAG WAS NOT VISIBLE AND I COMPLETED THE PREFLT. WHEN I CHKED FOR THE GEAR PIN ON BOARD I SIMPLY READ THE ITEM AND CHKED FOR THE BAG KEY NOT THE GEAR PIN. I BELIEVE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE DIFFERENCES AND LACK OF DIFFERENCE TRAINING. ADDITIONALLY; THE DISTR OF BEING BUMPED ON THE HEAD; RUSHING THROUGH CHKLISTS TO MEET ON TIME PERFORMANCE; AND PAIRING ITEMS TOGETHER ON THE CHKLIST; LIKE BAG KEY AND GEAR PIN EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT CO- LOCATED. WHILE THERE WAS NEVER ANY COMPROMISE TO SAFETY; I KNOW THAT ATTN TO DETAIL AND CHKLIST CONTENT CAN BE THE FIRST STEP IN A LARGER CHAIN OF EVENTS.